Only a short one for now, more info about the hang will come later on.

A little video about the stormy weather we had on saturday morning:

02-02-2011, 18:47

Rockdawg69

I don't care who you are - now that's what I call tough hanging! Thanks for the video guys.

02-03-2011, 04:37

Stavros

Trip report - Part 1 (Picture heavy!)

Our plans for the SKAHOw included:
1. More people than the last hang (4p)
2. Cold weather down to -30C (-22F)
3. Aurora Borealis (Northern Light)

Unfortunately we failed on all 3 points!
1. We were only 2 people at the hang (me and moski)
2. The coldest temp I measured was -7C (19F)
3. Not a slightest view of any Aurora Borealis

But we still had great fun!

Day 1 (Friday)
I picked up Moski at the airport in Arvidsjaur and after some last-minute-supplies we headed on for Laggträsket.
We got there about mid-day, packed our pulks, took on our skiis and skied out in the wilderness.
After less than 1km (1/2 mile) we made camp!

It took us some time to get our hammocks and tarps up due to wind and snow but before it went dark the camp was in order.
Dinner was prepared and eaten by the fire at the windshed. Very nice to have such priviligies as a windshed filled with firewood in wintertime.

We sat at the fire discussing gear and eating and the dark night came upon us.
The fresh air and the darkness made us very tired and already at 8 in the evening we went to our hammocks for a good night sleep.
The temperature was just above freezing (0,5C/32,9F).
No problem going to sleepmode, maybe a little to warmish.
I slept like a child that night and woke up at 8 in the morning after 12 hrs of deep sleep! Very nice.
The lowest temperature that night was -3,5C (25,7F).
After a cup of coffee and some chocolate from the hammock I went up to join moski at the campfire.

Day 2 (Saturday)
Breakfast was supposed to be hot sandwiches but unfortunately the thing that we was making our sandwiches broke down after one sandwich.
Fortunately I got the first one!

After that error we ate something else instead, our problem was not lack of food, there was plenty of that sort in our packs!

When we had our breakfast the storm (se movie in the threadstart) came upon us with snow blowing straight into the windshed covering all our gear with snow.
We had put it in the windshed so it would be protected. Bad idea!

About mid-day we were picked up by snow-mobiles to join the pork-screaming-festival (read about that festival in the summer-SKAHO-trip-report).
The festival occurs at several times of the year, and it seems like the natives don´t need any specila reason to celebrate.
We ate and feasted in one of the cabins and afterwards one of the natives gave us a ride back to our camp with his snow-mobile.

Happy after the festival we sat down in our wind-shed and thought of doing nothing for the rest of the day.
We were sitting there doing nothing when a mysterious skiier appeared on the ice below our camp.
He came towards us and asked if he could join us at our hang! Surprise!
He had read about the hang in a swedish forum and even though he was a ground-dweller he asked if he could join us and sleep there for the night.
Of course he could!
We thought that we might would be able to bring him over from the dark side!

Since it was becoming dark we helped him with his setup.
A tarp between two trees, some spruce-branches on the snow, a down-mat and a sleeping bag and his setup was done.

We sat by the fire that evening and talked a lot about gear, trips and other outdoor things.
It was a joyful evening and about 10 in the evening we went to our bunks.
It was a little bit colder this evening with -6,4C (20,5F).
Coldest during that night was -7C (19F).
I didn´t sleep as good this night, not because of the cold, maybe becuse of the stranger in our camp.
He could have been a potential massmurderer, who knows!:scared:

Anyhow I slept pretty good and didn´t get up from my hammock until 8,45 in the morning. Nice!

Don´t miss part 2 and the scary thing we enjoyed(?) during saturday night!

02-04-2011, 16:54

Mick

Great report.....thanks for part 1 ....... but you're killing me here.......I need part 2.

Enough suspense already:rolleyes:

Mick

ps great pics too!

02-04-2011, 21:33

creativeKayt

Wow! That's some wind! You guys really did it up managing to hang in that.
Love the vid, pics, and report.

Can't wait for part 2.
:thumbup:

02-05-2011, 09:54

Stavros

SKAHOw - part 2

Day 3 (Sunday)

When I went up at 8,45 in the morning the other guys was already at the wind-shed preparing breakfast.
Moski and the stranger, known as "ripnils" (in english "ptarmigan-nils") was already discussing gear and the day was to become a big discussion about gear.
We sat down by the fire all day long discussing gear, eating and so on.
Ripnils had a date with his girlfriend for lunch but he missed that date with a couple of hours. Sorry!

We tried to introduce him to hammock-camping and it seemed that we might have managed to turn him over to the "good" side.
I have to come back on that in the future.

The day went by doing nothing except enjoying good company and good food and in the afternoon, just before dark, our new friend left us.

The days are very short up here in the winter and in good company they intend to get even shorter.
Just like magic it went dark but at the light of the fire we kept on looking at gear.
I especially liked Moskis GSI Halulite Minimalist.
It had a really nice size, big enough for a meal and not to big to hold in the hand while eating or drinking. Me like!

As we sat by the fire and the dark was enclosing us, suddenly, out of nowhere the horrible thing happened.
I´d never thought that I would hear such a sound "live", especially not in this part of the country.
The animals that create those sounds normally live far southwest of where I live but apperently some of them had moved north. Scary!

Here´s a video about it (make sure you watch the ENTIRE movie):

To be continued.........

02-05-2011, 10:30

Rawhide

Hi guys!

I wish I was there with you, but fate wanted otherwise. What a thrill with wolves howling in the night. Maybe I'll see them there next time I go up there. Hope they're not hungry.:scared:

02-05-2011, 11:00

gates

Ok . . . I did. two bucks in the mail.

Probably payback for photoshopping in a bear near my hammock and showing to my friends. Two believed and one totally didn't because she was sure the pic would be totally blurry from my hand shaking.

Awsome trip you guys - thanks for posting!

02-05-2011, 21:06

creativeKayt

Yep. That sound carries a long ways and it is chilling to hear. Good idea to stay close to the fire with a solid building at your back. Me? I'm more afraid of mountain lions. They don't announce themselves like wolves and coyotes do.

Glad you both are safe!
:)

02-06-2011, 03:13

Stavros

I´m not sure if all of you fully understood the wolf-video.
Did you watch the entire movie?
Did you read all text in the end of the movie?